Signaling device for vehicles



June 18, 1929. D, sAw 1,717,629

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed March 12, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l @g Iafar/2y June 18, 1929.

E. D. SAWYER SIGflALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed March 12, 1925 3Sheets$heet 2 177M212, v ill/735 077 ja a m June 18, 1929. Q s w1,717,629

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Fiigd March 12, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 5 i r3 l A; l l 5/ i l t l W l i l l E' I n I 1 l l I l l I l l I l I/"\\ I ii i i I l l I i V 2' i E E 5 2/ i l l 1 H vi i /4 Patented June 18, 1929UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mnason n. SAWYEB, or cnicaoo; rntmors, assrouon aonrmnn, or cmeaeo,rumors.

or one-Rama 'ro ram. 11.

SIGN ALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed 1mm 12,, 923. sem m3. 624,485.

My invention relates to improvements in 4 signaling devices for vehiclesand has for its principal ob ect the provision of an improvedconstruction of this character which will be 5 highly eflieient in use.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over that disclosed ininy' prior application filed in the United States Patent Ofiice on orabout February 2, 1923, Serial N01 616,264.

Among other objects of the invention is the provision ofa circuitcontrolling means connected in circuit with a series of lamps wherebyany two pairs of lamps can be caused to burn. e

Other objects .will appear hereinafter. The invention consists inthecombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

The invention will reference to the' accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a steering :5 wheel of a vehicleshowing the invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2, is a sectional view of the invention taken substantially on line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2; 4

Fig. 5, is a sectional View taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 2; vv

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view illustrating an electric signalingsystem constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, showing the preferred form of constructionlOindicates a steering wheel column, 11 the steering wheel and A, theswitch controlling the circuits of the signaling lights of the vehicleto be hereinafter mentioned.

The switch A as shown in Fig. 1 is free of rotation-with thesteeringwheel and includes a switch block 12 having a centralcavity 13 formed inthe upper portion thereof and a central cavity 14 of reduced diameterand in communication with the cavity 13. The block 12 carries anextension 15 into which the rayity'14 extends and which has screwthreads formed in its outer peripherey as indicated spe ct to eachotherto be bestunderstood by 28 formed on t e stem end of the stem projectsabove the bottom 29 at 16. The-extension 15 is adapted to be threadedinto a nipple 17- carried by the steerin column 10. j

- ounted for pivotal movement in four directions is astem 18 pr'ovidedwith a central cav1ty'19 and ivoted to a collar 20 which is in turnpivoted to a collar 21 asindicated at 21. The collar 21 is mounted atthe upper portion of the cavit 14, as best'shownin Fig. 2. The upper'cnd of the stem 18projects through acentralopenin 22 formed in anenclosure 23 having. its si e walls 24 extending over the periphery ofthe block 12 and removably fixed thereto by screws 25. The 'enclosure23' is provided with radially extending slots 25, extending from thecentral opening 23 substantially at right angles with repermit the stemto be pivoted in'four directions from a perpendicular vertical plane.

Means is also provided for pivoting the stem 18, this means in thepresent instance includes an operating knob 26 having a cavity 27 formedin its bottom thereof. The wall 27 of the cavit rests upon an annularflange as shown. The outer of an upper cavity 30 formed in the operatingknob 26, and this projecting end portion is threaded as'indicated at 31for engagement with a sleeve 32, the sleeve 32 being adapted to hold theoperating knob in position on the stem 18 Threaded on the end portion 33ofthe sleeve 32 is a cap 34 having a central opening 35 formed thereinthrough which an enlarged cylindrical portion 36 is adaptedto work, saidcylindrical portion being provided with a threaded stud 37 .for threadedengagement with an operating knob 38. Below the cylindrical portion 36is a collar 39 adapted to abut the cap 34 and work in the space 40between the outer extremity of the stem and the cap. The outer extremityof the stem 18 is provided'with an enlarged cavity 41 within which areduced cylindrical portion 42 is adapted to work, said cylindricalportion earr-ies a plunger 43 working in the cavity 19.

The plunger 43 by manipulating the operatingknob 38 is adapted to closea circuit between contact elements 44 and 45, said phmgor being providedwith a tapered extremity as indicated at 46. The stem 18 carries at itslower end, that is the end extending into the cavity 14, a contactelement 47 which is ad apted to engage a contact element 48 when the 2 iI immae tions as indicated at 52 and the extremities'of the springmembers are adapted for contact with an annular enlarged portion 53formed on the stem 18-as shown.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the stem carries arectangular plate 54 formed of non-conducting material and having aperipheral edge 55 of conducting material. The peripheral edges ofconducting material are adapted for engagement with contact elements 5656, 57-57', 5858', and 5959' mounted in'cavities 60 formed in the block12 and controlled by spring members 61. The contacts 56-56 to 5959inclusive are connected together in pairs by conductors 62, as shown inFig. 4. The peripheral edge 55 is connected by a conductor 63 to thecontact element 44 carried by the stem 18.

Referring now to Fig. 7, in which a diagrammatical plan view of theelectrical cir- 1 cuit system is shown in accordance with the embodimentof the invention, 10 indicates a vehicle of any approved type and 11',12',

13' and 14 indicate the signal lamps carried by the body of the car insuch osition that any two' lamps can be .observed rom any position withrespect to the front and rear or sides of the car; and 15' indicates asuitable source of electrical su ply connected by a circuit 16 to theperipheral edges 55 of the plate 54. The source of su ply is alsogrounded to the body of the car y a conductor 17'. The lamp 11 isgrounded to the vehicle by a conductor 17 and is also connected byconductors 18' to the contact elements 56 and 59. The lamp 12' isgrounded to a vehicle by a conductor 19 and is also connected byconductors 20 to contact elements 56 and 57'. The lamp 13' is groundedto the vehicle by a conductor 21' and is connected by conductors 22 tocontact elements 57 and 58. The lamp 1 4 is grounded to the vehicle by aconductor 23 an is connected by conductors 24' to contact elements 59and 58'. The arran ement thus far set forth full discloses the circuitof the lamps as contro led by the pivotal contact member or peripheraledge 55 of the block 54 operable by the pivotal movement of the stem Ahorn 64 is diagrammatically illustrated in Fi 7 and is ounded to thebody of the vehic e by a con uctor 25 and connected to the contactelement 45 by a conductor 26.

The circuit is. closed between the source of electrical su ply and thehorn by means of the plunger 43 by a downward movement there of so as tobring its end 46 into contact with the elements 44 and 45, the plungerbeing returned automatically to its initial position by a spring member65.surrounding the portion 42 of the same and arranged between the upper extremity thereof and the collar 39, as

est shown in Fig. 2.

The contact element 48 is adapted for contact with the contact element47, when the stem 18 is in its initial position said contactelement 47being in connection with the end 67 of the conductor 63. The contactelement 48 is connected by the conductor 28 to one metallic brake drum29 of the automobile, the contact 80 of the brake operated switch 29'shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. The switch 29 may be any suitabletype of brake operated switch except that it-closes two contacts insteadof one. The switch illustrated has two stationary contacts 66 and 66supported below the frame of the automobile and insulated therefrom andfrom each other. A moving contact 80 co-operates with the contacts 66and 66 and is connected to the brake rod ,83 by means of the link 82,which is insulated from the "frame of the car as at 84. WVhen the brakelever is operated to set the brakes, the consequent motion of the brakerod 83 closes the contacts 80, 66 and 66'. When the brake is released,these contacts open. The lights 13 and 14 are connected by means of theconductors 30 and 32 to the contacts 66 and 66. When the contact 80 isclosed to contacts 66 and 66 the lights 13 and 14 are lighted providedthe stem 18 is in its normal position. The signal lamps will continue toburn as long as the brake mechanism is applied and the stem l8 is in itsinitial position, but upon movement of the stem, the contact element 47is moved away from the contact element 48 and the circuit is broken. Bymovement of thestem to break the circuit the conductor 55 is broughtinto contact with the contact elements controlling the pairs of sidelamps located in the direction of such movement of the stem and thiswill cause one of the lamps 11' or 12 to burn with one of the lamps 13'and 14' the arrangement being especially designed to serve for parkingpurposes when it is desired to park the vehicle and only have two sidelamps burning.

It is apparent from the disclosure herein that when the stem' 18 ismoved into contact with any pair of contact elements, a pair of lamps,considering the peripheral pairs, will be caused to burn and convey. theintention 3 and this is accomplished by providing a do 68 projectingthroughan opening 69 forme in the top of the enclosure 23, there beingtwo such dogs provided, one on the right side and one on the left sideof the stem. The dog 68 is carried b a-leaf spring 70. The dog 68 isadapted to e raised into engagement with a socket 71 formed in theoperating handle 26 when pivoted toward the dog. This raising of the dogis accomplished by a lever 72 pivoted at 73 and provided with anoperating handle 7 4 and working in a slot 75. By pivoting the lever 72a wedge-shaped member 76 carried thereby passes under the leaf spring 70 and forces the dog 68 upwardly into the socket 71. The dog engagingthe socket will hold the stem 18 against pivotal movement until it isremoved therefrom by pivoting the leaf in the opposite direction so asto permit return of-the leaf spring 70 I to its initial position.

By this (provision either the left pair or right pair of lamps can becaused to continuously urn.

It will be seen from the description herein that I provide a circuitcontrollin means adapted to be incorporated in an electrical signalingsystem for operating pairs of lamps so that signals by means of theburning lamps will inform other vehicle drivers what direction thevehicle withwhich my invention is associated, is about to take.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing' from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appIendedclaim.

aving. described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

The combination with an automobile of four peri heral electric lamps atthe four corners tiereof; a vertically arranged universally swingingswitch member carrying electric contacts; an electrical connectionthrough each of said lamps and the contacts of said switch; a brakeoperable switch having two contacts insulated from each other and acontact closable thereto, electrically connected to one contact of saidfirst named switch; electrical connections from the lamps on the rearcorners of the automobile to the contacts of said brake switch; andmeans on said first named switch for closing circuits for selectivelylighting any pair of said lamps when said first named switch is swung,and for lightin the rear pair of lamps only, when said st named switchis normal and said brake switch is closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

EMERSON D. SAWYER.

